Chutes and Ladders (Grauwolf(j) vs Mundy(a) LST Bottleneck Mod

[atheory]

Dec 31st

Midway falls as two infantry regiments storm ashore, quickly overwhelming the defenders.

Exodus from Soerabaja commences. Many ships sank by surface vessels and carrier planes. Love them small fish.

[atheory]

Jan 1st 1942

More small fishies are caught. Allied ships sunk exceed 200 in number.

City of Anyang was recaptured.

[atheory]

Jan 11th 1942

Been a while since last update, still slogging my way forward to Singapore and Bataan.

I think I caught Mundy off guard a little around Christmas Is. I pulled away to refuel, then returned to the area. I caught a good size transport convoy carrying, maybe a division. No clue where his carriers are, whether they still waiting around Port Moresby thinking my surface fleet there earlier was the beginning of a push there or not. I'm happy to let him patrol PM and the DEI while I can take shots at his transport convoys. Or it can be one big elaborate trap, Ender's Game style and he will pounce on my carriers there from two directions. Maybe we'll find out in due time.

Supply situation on the HI has improved, after finding where my bottlenecks were. Yes they were self made, but it's all about learning what I can get away with regarding the economy and any expansion.

And OMG, Tarakan will just not fall. I've had near 150 AV vs 0-5AV for the last 20 days maybe and the place just will not surrender. Those officers will be replaced, and they will not like where they end up.

[atheory]

Jan 13th 1942

Allied Carriers spotted near Canton Is. Thinking its two carriers. Debating about a seeking an engagement with them, but my main KB is out of torpedoes. Might be better to be cautious here.

Tarakan withstands yet another attack. There seems to be an infinite number of support squads there which is why it isn't surrendering the base. I don't know. I will just keep up the pressure.

Thai MTBs strike allied convoys outside Rangoon, landing one torpedo. So proud of my little Thai sailors thus far.

[Bif1961]

You torpedos are your killers and he probably has extra fighters, don't want to whittle away your air groups just to land a bomb or two on him and then he gets away.

[atheory]

Dec 15th 1942

Another attack at Taraken yields no surrender. 174 AV vs 4 AV, the siege continues.

Decided to not engage allied carriers, electing to withdraw and re-arm with torpedoes.

Getting nervous about recon reports in Rangoon. Over 40 units spotted, over 100,000 infantry spotted. And Mundy is confident enough to push forward a division to Moulmein.

We're advancing closer to a historical timeline for Singapore. I expect the crossing to happen sometime around Jan 24th. The question will be, with nearly the entire Malaya force withdrawn to Singapore, just how bad will the crossing be, and how long could this battle last. Flak at Singapore is heavy, and I have the plane losses to show it. Efforts to stall fort levels probably has failed.

[jwolf]

At Tarakan, can you use your BBs and blast the defenders with a bombardment?

If he has that large an army at Rangoon, they're probably (?) from the reinforcements that start the game heading toward Malaya and Singapore. If so, then maybe the ground defense at Singapore won't be too bad when you get there.

[atheory]

Jan 16th 1942

Recon now shows 164 fighters, 112 bombers plus recon at Rangoon.

My advance in China continues as more Kempeitai units arrive.


@jwolf - I can bombard them, but I am hoping to avoid destroying the oil wells if possible. There are only Dutch units at Tarakan. Although the 3 week delay fighting here one could argue is more costly. Also, I am pretty sure any reinforcements for singapore went to Rangoon.

[jwolf]

Ah, I hadn't thought about the destruction to the oil facilities. I'm an Allied player so I don't worry about that. [;)]

[atheory]

Jan 17th 1942

I think Mundy set a trap for any surface fleets I would send to Rangoon. After one was spotted, I sent it west, away from Rangoon. Now I see a potent STF and CTF around Rangoon. I assume looking for my task force. In truth, I was lucky. I sent my little fleet west as I was attempting to catch up to an allied bombardment fleet that was withdrawing towards Colombo, knowing they were low on ammo and thinking I could get a few shots in.

Started landings that will finish up what's left of Borneo.

A sub landed a torp into the CL Richmond.

[atheory]

Jan 19th 1942

My brave little Thai MTB squadron finally fell to an overwhelming allied surface fleet.

A small supply convoy headed for POrt Moresby was intercepted, all ships were lost including two australian DD

[atheory]

Jan 22nd 1942

Subs fired 2 torps at kittyhawk, missing ;(

I slipped a carrier force behind Sumatra hoping to catch British carriers, well the cats out of the bag when my planes went after a transport convoy. The large AP west point was sunk.

Taraken withstands yet another attack.

Main KB armed with torps again, debating where to deploy it.

[atheory]

Jan 23rd 1942

Relatively quiet turn, intercepted a task force around Port Moresby, but it was able to escape after a short exchange of fire.

Doesn't look like I'll be moving into Singapore by the 24th, probably the 30th now.

Slowly pushing into the Rebaul area, and expanding around the Celebes Sea.

The 14th Army should be in Bataan on the 25th and let the siege begin.

[atheory]

Jan 25th 1942

Troops arrived at Bataan, bombardment will commence.

Allied troops begin their offensive south of Moulmein. 11 offensive units participate, including 4-5 Indian Bdes, an Indian Division, several burma bns and other units I forget. An additional 4 units are marching south from Moulmein. Plus an estimated 20-25 additional units of misc variety at Rangoon itself.

They've already brushed aside my main blocking units and there isn't much to stop them from marching on Bangkok. I may be forced to pull troops away from Singapore. I do have time, and am unsure how far my opponent will press. Perhaps thinking I'd respond quickly to this threat. He might see if I commit to singapore or not before marching further south. My best guess is he will occupy the local area, especially the coastline back down to Tavoy.

Not sure where allied carriers are, but mine are back underway.

[atheory]

Jan 28th 1942

The march to Singapore commences

Port attack on Diamond Harbor lands some hits, curious if my opponent will move the ships, but I suspect he will pull air assets up from Rangoon to intercept. So I'm thinking one more turn of port strikes then withdraw.

Taraken - I think i'm up to my 17th attack on this base, and once again the base holds firm.

Allied carrier planes spotted spotting canton is, presumed east of the island, I think hunting for my carriers, which are now discovered after they pursued and sank a small convoy at Tulagi. I wonder if he'll turn and try and engage, or sweep through the Marianas.

[atheory]

Jan 29th 1942

We'll call it the 18th attack on Tarakan is unsuccessful.

Images below show some crazy things.
*
*
Image #1 - what's going on here? Seems a suspicious buildup of units.




Image #2 - rangoon situation - allies have 53+ units and over 120k troops among the bases.

[atheory]

Jan 30th 1942

One of these days I'll learn not to keep my carriers stationary. While refueling a swarm of DD hurled themselves at my mini-KB threatening Diamond Harbor. My DD escorts blocked their path allowing my carriers to withdraw from battle relatively unscathed. I wonder if i'll have any ops points to move next turn. I detached DDs from my tanker task force in the hopes they will intercept any pursuing forces. I have an undetected surface fleet also within reach at full speed. Who will fair better the next day, we shall find out soon.

My carriers did launch during the day and retaliate against those pesky DDs, landing hits on many of the evasive ships.

BC Repulse has been found, she linked up with the Houston in a task force near Brisbane heading north, I assume to engage my surface fleet harassing convoys heading to Port Morseby. But my main KB struck their flank from the east. Landing 2 torps and 16 bombs on the ship. I hope crippled enough to finish her off next turn. Other small fishies were sank in this area as well. Allied ships sank are over 300.

On a side note, over the last week or so, I've finally gotten news of the Arizona and Oklahoma sinking, gaining those VPs.

[LargeSlowTarget]

I noticed your problems at Tarakan and Rabaul.

The "civilians" are boosting the defense - non-combat units (squads) contribute 10% of their strength to defense.

As stated, I intended the civilians to be evacuated, while the military stays put and has to fight to protect them - thus preventing a "Sir Robin" with wholesale withdrawal of ships and military assets.

There are ample means to effect the evacuation - many small xAPs and xAKLs, air transport, subs. My tests in H2H showed that it is well possible to evacuate a large part of the civilians. Some have to be left behind, others are lost on ships trying to escape - which is all very historical.

Now, to incite Allied players who do not role-play the game but care about VPs to evacuate the civilians, I have made the "civilian" units relatively large, i.e. with many squads = many VPs. However, many "civilian" squads adding 10% AV to the defense explain your problems at Rabaul and Tarakan.

So, the problem comes from Mundy not role-playing "the script" so to say and not caring about the VP loss either, thus leaving the civilians to their fate.

Just bring a bigger hammer and enjoy the VP yield (if you care about VPs).

[atheory]

Rebaul wasn't an issue, it only took two attacks there. I figured the civies had a bunch of support as I mentioned in an earlier post the notion of infinite support. It's almost comical at this point, thus I'm not too annoyed by it. With most of my strength devoted to Bataan and Singapore, it's just taking a while before troops are freed up to reinforce Tarakan.

[atheory]

Jan 31st 1942

There was no immediate pursuit of my mini-kb near calcutta and have withdrawn to resupply. How quickly one runs out of torpedoes

It appears the Repulse has indeed sunk, and my main KB is attacking every ship in sight along Australia's eastern coastline. I think I've forced my opponent to respond as a carrier fleet was spotted heading west. Taking Canton Is. is proving a most valuable observation point early on.

The infamous crossing at Singapore happened. 27 squads destroyed, 500+ disabled. Surprisingly not as bad as I expected. I think Johore should have its SL limits increased to 95k.